In the event of an enemy attack, why would you shut down a large resource of citizens that can intercept and monitor possible enemy transmissions, as they did in WWII. Again, that does not make any sense, no matter how remote the possibility.

It doesn't say they can't LISTEN, as the Volunteer Interceptors did a lot of in WWII.

They just can't TRANSMIT, except as part of a responsible organization (RACES) under the control of a local government entity.

Besides, in that case, the military will probably be using all available frequencies for theircommunications.

If you don't like the law, why don't you lobby your congress-critter to get it changed.

They are going to have time and resources to confiscate radio equipment in the middle of a real emergency? Why would they do that?

We're talking about war here, not just any emergency. The last time war was officially declared by the USA was WWII. So yes, amateur radio was shut down in war before. It doesn't have anything to do with party affiliation or handgun ownership. (Possibly automatic rifle ownership.)

The large volume of amateur transmissions is an opportunity for enemy messages to be hidden, and the frequencies might be needed for military use. Some of the radios and radio operators might also be needed. At least that's how it was back then. Amateurs did service as volunteer interceptors, or as instructors or radio operators in the field. Some of them fell in battle.

Well, if you guys are concerned about the government shutting down ham radio during a war, maybe you should just sell all your radio equipment to me cheap and not buy any more!

Right now we have three wars going and more seem imminent. No sense waiting until the last minute. You don't want to be labled a scofflaw!

You should be concerned about something more important, like the next election. It may very well determine the financial future and or failure of our country. As we all know, wars are usually about the money!

Well, if you guys are concerned about the government shutting down ham radio during a war, maybe you should just sell all your radio equipment to me cheap and not buy any more!

Right now we have three wars going and more seem imminent. No sense waiting until the last minute. You don't want to be labled a scofflaw!

You should be concerned about something more important, like the next election. It may very well determine the financial future and or failure of our country. As we all know, wars are usually about the money!

I'll second this: I'll be willing to take your gear off your hands, so you have one less thing to worry about during a war

The large volume of amateur transmissions is an opportunity for enemy messages to be hidden, and the frequencies might be needed for military use. Some of the radios and radio operators might also be needed. At least that's how it was back then. Amateurs did service as volunteer interceptors, or as instructors or radio operators in the field. Some of them fell in battle.

The large volume of amateur transmissions? Your kidding, right? What about the large volume of cell phone calls and internet traffic?

Anyone (who is sufficiently motivated) can record every transmission made on every Ham band using SDRs and PCs. I'm pretty sure you can use just one to record the entire set of HF bands (0-30Mhz).

Imagine what the government (who is significantly more well funded and more motivated) can record and analyze. There are not many places to hide a signal nowadays.

Shutting down amateur radio for "security reasons" without also shutting down cell phones and the internet would seem pretty silly these days.

The large volume of amateur transmissions is an opportunity for enemy messages to be hidden, and the frequencies might be needed for military use. Some of the radios and radio operators might also be needed. At least that's how it was back then. Amateurs did service as volunteer interceptors, or as instructors or radio operators in the field. Some of them fell in battle.

The large volume of amateur transmissions? Your kidding, right? What about the large volume of cell phone calls and internet traffic?

Anyone (who is sufficiently motivated) can record every transmission made on every Ham band using SDRs and PCs. I'm pretty sure you can use just one to record the entire set of HF bands (0-30Mhz).

Imagine what the government (who is significantly more well funded and more motivated) can record and analyze. There are not many places to hide a signal nowadays.

Shutting down amateur radio for "security reasons" without also shutting down cell phones and the internet would seem pretty silly these days.

I think it's more for radio-location issues, but I for the most part agree. Unless we are facing air raids, shutting down radio (Of any sort) would be a silly move; and not one I see happening.

But, that being said: I'll still offer to take anyone's radios off their hands, if they want one less thing to worry about

The shutting down of amateur radio during times of war was to prevent enemy agents from using amateur radio to pass messages in code to the enemy. To such people a plain everyday sentence could well be meant to convey another meaning entirely. The other purpose, as one other here recognized, was to prevent enemy agents from using ham radio in a way so as to provide an enemy with locations of, in that day, strategic targets. Radiolocation has been a practiced and used tactic in many different ways and situations.

If another widespread war should occur, I have no doubt that certain radio services would be summarily shut down. Let's just hope that mankind is beyond such foolishness (another world war) now.

RE: shutting down radio services, that might have been practical back when there were comparatively few radios and fewer frequencies in use than there are today. Nowadays, however, shutting down radio services would be like shutting down the water or turning off electricity. Going back to no-cellular, no-Internet would feel like going back to the stone age. If it comes down to doing this to survive, we'll be in some seriously deep doo-doo.

When they send the nuclear missiles over, radio communication, if it still exists after the attack, will be a moot point. Some of you guys are still living in the first half of the last century!

Do you mean launch orders?

Radio communication, in this sense will exist until there are no more people. And, in the event of nobody to send launch orders to, there are "Final Orders" to be executed, which include the launch plan, in the event NORAD can not be contacted.

If the situation came about that the government ordered the cessation of all radio transmission in certain services, you can rest assured that there will be people from the government that will go around and offer offenders a set of nice chrome plated locking bracelets and a rent free room with bars for about twenty years!

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